To address the increasingly severe issues of illegal immigration and transnational criminal activities, Poipet, a northwestern border city in Cambodia, recently held a special meeting to announce the launch of a new management system for foreigners. This move signifies Poipet's determination to strengthen the supervision of foreign populations and reflects the local government's proactive approach to the security governance of border cities.
The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Governor of Banteay Meanchey Province, Papoli (transliterated), with representatives from the provincial police department and various departments attending. Over a hundred foreign residents and business operators were also invited to participate, providing detailed explanations of the policy content and implementation plans. Papoli pointed out that this measure is implemented according to the directive 003/8.A issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior on July 7, 2024, aimed at combating illegal immigration, cross-border fraud, and related criminal activities.
The new regulations include four main measures, with key points as follows:
Strengthening identity verification: Explicitly prohibiting any individual or entity from employing or harboring foreigners without a legal passport and visa;
Cracking down on illegal operations: Strictly forbidding activities such as human trafficking, forced labor, prostitution, and illegal detention in commercial premises;
Prohibiting drug-related activities: No space shall be provided for the manufacture, storage, or trade of drugs, and any clues must be reported to the police immediately;
Blocking fraud dens: Prohibiting the provision of business premises or accommodation for telecommunications fraud, online fraud, and other criminal activities.
The Deputy Governor emphasized that this series of rectification actions is not only to maintain national security and social stability but also to create a transparent and safe business environment for legal investors and tourism practitioners. He called on all foreigners and local governments to closely cooperate to foster a good social order.
According to official statistics, Poipet has recently completed the inspection and registration of 625 properties, covering 19 hotels, 5 motels, 152 apartment buildings, and 449 rental houses, registering a total of 3,044 foreign nationals, including 1,108 women, covering nationalities from ten countries.
In the next phase, the Banteay Meanchey provincial government plans to extend such inspection actions to the entire province, comprehensively enhancing the supervision of foreign populations and business activities, ensuring that all foreigners work and live within a legal and regulated framework.
